consulate in benghazi. the u.s. ambassador to the u.s. and three other americans were killed last week. senior state department officials telling cnn there were a lot of concerns about a rise in islamic extremism in benghazi. a recommendation to close it never got passed up the chain of command. the obama administration saying the act was an act of terrorism. secretary of state, hillary clinton, assigning a panel to investigate how it happened. >> there are obviously very real challenges in these new democracies, these fragile societies. as i said last week, the vast majority of the people in these countries did not throw off the tyranny of a dictator to trade it for the tyranny of a mob. >> sources told cnn ambassador stevens mentioned being on a hit list weeks before he died. secretary clinton doesn't believe there's a basis for the reports. >>> president obama sent in 30,000 additional troops to neutralize a taliban resurgent. the last of the troops have now shipped out. 68,000 u.s. personnel are still stationed. >>> election day less